Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta

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• Insurance requirements for staff or volunteers driving students.
• Record keeping.
• Access to student information.
• Spectator capacity and fire code compliance
• Adherence to public health advisories.
Permission from a school superintendent or designate is recommended when
considering actions or activities not included or in conflict with these guidelines.
If there is a question of safety in relation to providing any activity, teachers/coaches
should check with their principal and/or school district administration prior to
introducing the activity. Special consideration should be given to identifying and
minimizing foreseeable risks not mentioned in this document.
Teacher/Coach Role and Responsibilities
Coaching for Safety
• The teacher/coach should interact with student athletes in a professional manner
that emphasizes respect, fair play and skill improvement.
• The teacher/coach should plan lessons to allow for students’ gradual progress
and skill development; stress importance of rules and regulations promoting
safety in all activities; and emphasize a progressive manner of teaching which
may include lead-up games, modification of rules to accommodate
ability/age/physical development and available equipment.
• The teacher/coach should be familiar with the contents of:
o the Board’s risk management policy and administrative procedures
o
for interschool athletic activities;
Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Bylaws and Policies, if
applicable, and Zone policies, as applicable.
• The teacher/coach should be prepared to enact the school’s Emergency Action
Plan to deal with accidents in interschool athletic activities (see Appendices L
and N).
• The teacher/coach should be knowledgeable of the rules and the skills necessary
for the student athletes to participate in the interschool athletic activity safely.
• Teachers/coaches must control their teams and instruct their student athletes to
participate in a safe manner according to the rules of the interschool athletic
activity.
• Teachers/coaches are responsible for their team’s behaviour and the behaviour
of volunteers representing their school.
• Teachers/coaches should be aware of school’s coaching handbook and local
association teacher’s/coach’s code of behaviour, if available and as applicable.
• Teachers/coaches must sanction student athletes for unsafe play or unacceptable
behaviour, provide corrective instructions and warnings and must exercise this
responsibility at all times.
• During games officials have final say and must be treated with respect. Should
questions arise, teacher/coaches should follow proper procedures to appeal
decisions.
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Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta - February 2012